DIY bumper scratch repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of bumper scratches from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

In order to understand how damaged a part of your car is, you do not need to be a professional; it is enough to make a careful inspection of the bumper.

Scratches and abrasions are barely noticeable - these are the simplest cases, which most often do not even require staining. Moreover, in order to eliminate such a drawback, the bumper does not need to be dismantled - it is enough to polish the surface right on the spot.
Large scratches and small cracks are damage resulting from minor collisions or poor parking. In order to repair a crack or scratch on the bumper, you can apply a local (spot) painting or complete painting with the removal of the bumper.
Dents - appear with strong mechanical stress or as a result of heating. Small indentations can be removed with the same heating; for larger damage, special suction cups are used.
Tears and breaks are the most serious deformations when the integrity of the bumper is compromised. Sometimes here you can do with dismantling, welding and further painting, but most often you need to purchase a new part, so we do not consider such cases.

If you have successfully diagnosed the trouble with your car, then you can proceed to the instructions on how to remove a scratch on the bumper.

There are many ways to fix a defect if you scratched your bumper. The most elementary of them are aimed at masking damage to the top layer when the paintwork is not touched. These include polishing pastes with different sizes of abrasives, as well as pencil-type waxes that fill the cracks with a special substance.

Video (click to play).

Staining is a way to completely damage the production paint layer. With spot painting, it is enough to remove a layer of paint from one area, sand it well and then apply a new layer of a suitable color. If scratches are noticeable over the entire area of the part, the bumper must be repaired as a whole, with the complete removal of the old paint.

The deepest scratches without tears require surface restoration, for which several layers of putty are used. Instructions for using all these methods are provided below.

For those who have only scratched the bumper lightly, the purchase of a wax pencil is sufficient. Before using it, it is imperative to clean the bumper with special means, and then degrease it with a solvent.

It is best to use a wax marker at a moderate temperature in a warm, windless environment. The wax is applied in several layers, and between approaches it is imperative to take breaks so that the layers have time to dry. They are smeared first with transverse movements, and then with longitudinal movements. It is advisable that the product does not fall outside the aisles of the damaged area, and if this does happen, then you need to remove the wax with an ordinary napkin. After applying the last layer, the area to be treated must be lightly polished. In addition to filling in scratches, such a pencil creates additional surface protection - but for this it is better to choose a wax of increased hardness.

Do not forget to shake the pencil slightly before use, and then close it with a cap so that the product does not dry out.

Dyeing is, of course, a much more detailed and complex process that requires special tools and materials.Any painting begins with cleaning the bumper, it does not matter if you are going to remove it or carry out all the work right on the spot. As in the previous case, the part must be washed, dried and degreased. To polish and remove old coatings, you will need a sander and varying grit sizes of sandpaper.

First, you need to thoroughly machine the bumper around the entire perimeter; for hard-to-reach places, you will need sandpaper, which we use by hand. The surface is then primed in two coats and the bumper is allowed to dry.
When the composition has hardened, the bumper is cleaned again and then you can start painting. To make the color lighter, the part can be slightly heated beforehand.
The paint is applied using a spray gun or a special gun. It will take about 3 coats, then the surface is varnished.
For more complex damage, it is advisable to use a putty together with a primer.

The use of a putty requires additional time and manipulation. It is applied after the bumper has been cleaned, degreased and sanded with sandpaper or a machine.

The putty is applied in a small layer to the scratch so that it fills in all the damage. Then you should sand the area. This must be done very carefully so that the surface does not become thinner.
When the first layer is smooth and even, you need to repeat the procedure, this time smoothing the surface at a slower speed. Remember to use fine sandpaper for tricky areas, as no power tool replaces manual work.
After the surface takes on its previous shape, a primer is applied on top in two layers and all the above described manipulations with paint and varnishing are done.
Then it will take at least a day to dry and it will be better if the part dries naturally in order to prevent its deformation.

Now you are not afraid to scratch the bumper, because in fact, repair is a fairly simple process in which you can do without the intervention of a specialist. The most important thing is to follow the instructions clearly and calculate your skills correctly.

In this video, you can learn how the process of removing scratches on a car takes place.

Most owners are in awe of the look of their car. But alas, it is impossible to protect the paintwork of the car from accidental scratches. Most often, plastic bumpers suffer - both rear and front. There are many reasons: unsuccessful parking, pebbles on the roads from oncoming cars, tree branches and other circumstances. The question is: is it necessary to fight them? The answer is simple: any scratch on the plastic is the beginning of the destruction of the paintwork. Failure to take measures will lead to corrosion of metal products, and deep marks from "wounds" over time can destroy plastic parts. So it's best to remove them as soon as they appear.

In general passenger cars, dampers are used, which are made of high-strength plastic.

The main role of this device is the decorative design of the appearance of the car. Most machines use impact-resistant thermoplastic (ABS plastic) as an element of passive protection. But there are dampers made from polypropylene, polyurethane and fiberglass. This can be indicated by the marking that is applied to their inner surface. The plastic is lightweight, easy to stamp, holds the paintwork perfectly. The protective functions of the bumper are of secondary importance. They appear only in collisions at low speed:

as a result of maneuvering in a confined space when parking;
when driving over rough terrain.

In Russia, male car owners are jack of all trades.For them, removing scratches from a plastic bumper is a feasible, somewhat familiar, not very difficult task. Life itself makes such tricks go - not everyone has enough money to go to a car service on every occasion.

But first you need to assess the scale of the damage in order to choose the right strategy for your actions. Having carefully studied the defects of the bumper, you need to attribute them to one of the points of the accepted classification:

Slightly noticeable, shallow abrasions and scratches do not require removing the bumper and painting. They do not cause any harm to the plastic, but they cause frustration to the owner of the car because of the spoiled appearance. This flaw is corrected by polishing this place directly on the car.
Scratches to the depth of the paintwork and small cracks are the result of minor accidents and inept parking. In this case, special restoration methods are used - heating, wax crayon, local or complete staining - of the bumper. Small defects are repaired on site. The damage is more serious - on the removed buffer.
Deep Scratches and Dents are formed by violent collisions. Here you will need to putty damage on the removed bumper. In this case, a special technique is used to restore the original state of the plastic part.
The destruction of the integrity of the damper with the formation of ruptures, breaks, through cracks most often requires the purchase of a new part. In cases where repairs are possible, welding is used. But this work can only be done in a car service, so such defects will not be considered in this article.

The whole process of getting rid of the flaw is divided into two stages:

polishing with the removal of the thinnest layer of paintwork (paintwork) plastic;
restoration of paintwork using wax polishes without the use of abrasives.

The procedure is as follows:

clean, wash and degrease the defective area with a solvent;
polish the scratches with a fine-grained sandpaper with abundant watering until they disappear completely;
treat damaged paintwork with felt, without abrasive wax pastes (in difficult cases, you can use tooth powder);
Wipe dry with a woolen cloth.

When heated, the plastic becomes fluid. This property is used when getting rid of surface damage in the bumper in the form of deep marks from sharp objects. This method can only be used for unpainted products. The high temperature will destroy the paintwork and instead of benefit, harm will result. A large area, including an area with scratches, is gently gradually heated with a construction hairdryer. This process should go slowly, evenly, consistently. The danger here is that the plastic under the influence of high temperature can behave unpredictably: instead of tightening the defective traces, its surface will "float". In this case, such depressions are formed, which will be very difficult to liquidate in the future. Mindfulness, neatness, and slowness will help to stop at a critical moment.

This method can correct only the defect of such marks, the depth of which extends to the layer of varnish, paint and bumper primer. A wax stick is a versatile polymer synthesis tool. They create a strong protective layer that is not inferior to the strength and uniformity of the bumper paintwork. A wax crayon has the following benefits:

its composition is durable, therefore it easily endures several dozen car washes using car shampoos;
it is easy to use, so an inexperienced driver can easily use it;
it will not harm any kind of primer and paint that was used when painting the bumper at the factory.

There are two types of wax crayons:

Marker. Reminds of a regular felt-tip pen. They just need to paint over a scratch or chip. The amount of released substance depends on the force of pressing.The content of the marker is similar in consistency to the composition of the paintwork. A colorless wax crayon can be used for any paint color.

Corrector. Consists of a bottle and a brush. Requires an individual selection of a suitable pencil for a specific color of the bumper paintwork. When using a brush, an intact area may also be caught. In this case, it is necessary that the colors of the paintwork and the corrector coincide by 100%.

For cases of damage only to the paintwork, you can also use a colorless corrective pencil. Colorless paint is poured into it, so there will be no negative consequences from its use. In a situation where the ground layer is damaged, a colorless wax pencil will not be able to help eliminate the defect.

Procedure for using a wax crayon:

the damaged area of the bumper is thoroughly washed, degreased and dried;
a pencil on a scratch should be carried out gradually, evenly, consistently;
deep chips are painted over in several steps;
after finishing work, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the contents of the pencil with a paper towel or napkin.

If the area of the defective section of the bumper is significant, a complete painting of the entire product will be required after the flaws have been eliminated. In such cases, the buffer is removed from the vehicle. It is thoroughly cleaned from dirt and washed. The problem area is polished with a small grinder, as well as the use of flexible abrasive wheels: emery skins, belts, petals, brushes. In this way, scratches can be removed, the depth of which is limited by damage to the primer. Then the cleaned area is washed, degreased, primed. Then the entire surface of the bumper is painted, then varnished. After drying, the damper regains its original appearance.

Video: how to remove scratches on the bumper with your own hands?

Serious signs of damage affecting the plastic material can only be repaired with a putty. This technology is based on the use of fillers, primers and enamels of the same polymer base. This approach creates a durable, uniform layer of new paintwork that will not swell, flake or flake off. The putty is applied in several steps. Each layer is dried. The quality of the repair of the bumper and the applied paintwork depends on the thoroughness of this operation. The filler is sanded with a soft abrasive material.

To the touch, the place where the defects were repaired should be indistinguishable from the adjacent undamaged areas. This process requires skill, perseverance, and diligence. Then the area with eliminated flaws is degreased, primed, painted. The top is varnished. In this way, you can get rid of deep scratches, chips, dents on the bumper both installed on the car and dismantled from it. It all depends on the place of damage and area.

Elimination of minor scratches on the car

All small defects - scratches, chips, scuffs, cobwebs, cracks are subdivided according to the size and depth of damage.It can be superficial or deep - depending on the nature of the damage, a method of eliminating the defect is chosen.

Superficial scuffs and the smallest cracks of the body and bumper abound in every car. Without carrying the threat of corrosion, such damage to the top layer of the paintwork is harmless in itself, but they spoil the appearance of the car, especially the new one. To eliminate them, a cosmetic repair of scratches on the car is done without painting. It is of two types:

masking with special compounds;
removal of scratches on the car body by polishing.

You can fix scratches on the machine by treating the surface with special restorative compounds based on silicone, wax or Teflon. The duration of such drugs is short, the cosmetic effect lasts from 2 to 12 washes.

Removing scratches on a car body without painting can be done with a wax pencil - this is the easiest way to mask surface damage that has not touched the ground. The color of the pencil is selected as close as possible to the shade of the car's coating. The area around the scratch is cleaned, and then the damage is shaded with lateral movements. The wax will fill the depression, the surface will be leveled, the defect will become invisible. According to motorists' reviews, the masking effect of the wax composition persists after 2-3 washes. After processing with a wax pencil, it is recommended to grind the surface with an abrasive polish. Instead of a pencil, you can use a wax-based polish, it is more durable, it can withstand 5-6 washes.

Synthetic pastes are produced on the basis of Teflon, they are more expensive, but they can withstand up to 12 washes. To eliminate a scratch on a car, the paste is rubbed into the surface, having previously cleaned and then degreased the damaged area.

A silicone repair polish is used to remove scratches from the car body. The car is pre-washed with water, the place of damage is dried. Shake the polish, apply the product to a damp cloth, rub it into the surface with smooth movements without effort. After the silicone compound dries, a soft coating forms on the surface of the car - a thin film forms at the molecular level. The remnants of the product are removed from the surface with a dry cloth.

Advice. Before using the composition, read the instructions for its use, without neglecting the details. For example, do not forget to shake vials or other containers before use, as dissimilar chemical constituents of substances settle during storage.

One of the most effective methods of repairing surface damage is to polish the scratch on the car with your own hands. For work you will need:

grinding machine with a circle;
fine (3000) sanding paper;
abrasive paste (one or a set);
regenerating polish;
water with a spray.

The surface of the car is washed, degreased, before work, it is moistened with sanding paper with water.

Using a lint-free napkin, cover the surface of the part with an abrasive paste, begin grinding with smooth movements, in order to polish the scratch on the machine with your own hands, but not remove the excessively thick layer of varnish. Using a grinder speeds up the process, but when working with it, it is important not to overdo it. After sanding and cleaning from the paste, the surface is treated with a polish to give a glossy shine.

Means for removing defects from paintwork

Polishing pastes are produced in several types according to numbers from 1 to 4 - from coarse-fraction (No. 1) to fine-fraction (No. 4). Polishing can be carried out sequentially with all pastes from the first to the fourth number, changing the polishing wheel of the grinder or reducing the grain fraction of the sandpaper.Polishing wheels differ in hardness, the degree of which is indicated by color: the coarsest - white, medium - orange, soft (for finishing) - black.

Removing small scratches on the car will allow you to renew the look of the car with the least cost and effort.

A penetrating scratch on the machine to the metal carries the risk of corrosion and must be repaired without delay. The principle of eliminating damage is to remove rust and fill it with special paint-cementing compounds. Removing deep scratches on a car without painting is done as follows:

The surface of the car is washed, degreased, dried.
If the damage has corroded, oxidized metal particles are removed: the depression is treated with a rust converter. If the scratch is fresh, fill it with primer for better paint adhesion.

Deep damage all over the side of the machine

After the treated surface has completely dried, the scratches of the car are painted - paint is applied inside the recess, specially designed for local repair (for example, Touch-Up, produced in the form of a pencil). Some car owners, to remove a scratch from the car body, use special kits from the car manufacturer, consisting of paint and varnish, ideally suited to the car's paintwork.
When the paint and then the varnish are dry, the place is treated with abrasive polishes - coarse and fine abrasive. If possible, the surface is sequentially polished with both compounds, but one can be dispensed with.
The last step in removing a scratch on a car is rubbing it with a repair polish to add a shine to the surface.

Removing chips on a car without painting is carried out in the same way.

The bumper is designed to protect the car from impacts, it is the most vulnerable part that takes impacts. Occupying a central place, it is also designed to decorate the car. Repairing and removing scratches on the car in the bumper area will significantly improve the appearance of the car. The technology for removing scratches on the bumper without painting and the choice of a suitable composition depends on the plastic material from which it is made: thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or polypropylene.

Elimination of scratches on the bumper

If many cracks and cobwebs of the paintwork have a superficial character, and they are not pronounced, then to eliminate damage to the paintwork, the bumper is polished from scratches. Craftsmen recommend removing the part from the machine for ease of use and better results.

The clean, grease-free surface of the bumper is polished "on wet" - after being moistened with water. First, a coarse-abrasive paste is applied, sanded with 2000 sandpaper, gradually increasing the speed of the grinder. At the end, wipe the surface with a dry cloth. The next step is sanding with fine paste and 3000 sandpaper. Finally, the bumper is treated with a finishing paste or polish. The difference in polishing plastic and metal is that working on plastic requires less speed of the grinder.

The next way to remove a scratch on plastic, which is of a superficial nature, is to use chemicals:

First, the surface is washed and degreased with white spirit or other solvent. Then the selected agent is applied, if it is liquid enamel, then shake the bottle before use. After waiting for the composition to "grab", remove the excess with a dry, lint-free cloth.

If the damage is penetrating, then the elimination of scratches on the plastic of the car will require local filling and painting. The surface is sequentially sanded with sandpaper P150 and P240, cleaned and primed for better adhesion of the putty.Putty on the plastic is applied to the ground, after drying it is processed with sandpaper P110, P240, P320, scotch-bright. If it is necessary to level the surface, the putty can be applied in several layers, waiting for the previous one to dry. The putty is covered with primer, painted, varnish is applied to the dried paint.

The peculiarity of painting plastic parts is the obligatory application of a primer under the paint and varnish layer.

Almost all cars currently produced have plastic bumpers. No matter how thrifty and tidy the driver is, there comes a time when he is interested in the question of how to paint over scratches on a plastic bumper.

Most drivers prefer to go to specialized workshops in such cases. But many types of deformations of plastic products can be removed by yourself. Most often they get damaged and "suffer" from small stones flying out from under the wheels of oncoming cars, collisions on curbs and other obstacles.

The first thing to do is to wash well the damaged area of the plastic using shampoo. Further, after drying, the product being repaired is degreased. White spirit works well for this. After these operations, the following types of defects may appear to your eyes:

The presence of small, sometimes barely noticeable scratches, abrasions. This is one of the simplest cases of damage. To remove such a flaw, you do not need to remove the bumper from the car, you also don’t have to paint it. It is simply polished right on the machine.
The appearance of large scratches, cracks, as a rule, is the result of failed parking lots or collisions. In such cases, painting will already be required to remove the damage.
More serious damage is dents. They can be obtained by impact and heating. In order to remove them, various suction cups are used, and small dents can be removed by heating the damaged areas.
Breaking or breaking is one of the most serious types of damage that can be difficult to repair. In most cases, there is damage to the bumper, its breaks, violation of the integrity. In some cases, it is possible to "cure" the part by welding, soldering or other methods, but most often the owners buy a new product.

If you will be polishing the plastic of the bumper from scratches, you cannot do without purchasing special tools and tools. Depending on the type of scratches received, their depth and nature, in order to remove the defect, you may need to use a polishing machine, drill, special nozzles for sanding paper. Wool wheels for applying abrasive compounds, abrasive compounds, as well as a spray gun, polish. If all this is there, and the desire to remove the plastic scratch with your own hands has not disappeared, let's talk about how to polish the scratch on the bumper plastic.

You can perform this operation directly on the car, but it is more convenient to do all this with the removed product. Remove any existing damage before polishing.

Work always begins with degreasing the plastic surface to be repaired. In this case, various solvents are used, but before using them, you should carefully read the instructions. After that, you can start removing the scratches.

They start up a polishing machine, you will also need a hard wheel, abrasive pastes. The product should be applied to damaged areas of the bumper. Spread the paste over the surface with a polishing machine in such a way that in the first period it works at low speeds, and then they are gradually increased.

While working, carefully monitor the area to be treated so as not to miss a small scratch on the bumper somewhere. In addition to being careful while working, you need to be careful. Excessive diligence can damage the plastic paintwork.When the damaged area has been completely processed, it is necessary to remove the abrasive material remaining on the part with a clean rag.

This stage of work is much easier than the previous one, but you will first have to purchase a product that contains wax and Teflon. They are needed to make the plastic of the bumper shine, they will also increase its water-repellent property, improve protection. The work will involve a nozzle made of foam rubber, a polishing machine. If the area is not very large, it is quite possible to polish by hand.